This year, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the New World Theatre Club a.s.b.l., the first English Language theatre club in Luxembourg.
It all started in 1968 with the first production of “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, directed by Peter Davies. Then, in the early 70s, came “The Follies” - an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. The crowning glory being on 5 February 1975 when the group was invited to perform in the Grand Theatre before their Royal Highnesses Grand-Duke Jean and Grand-Duchesse Charlotte and many other dignitaries when Sacha Distel brought his show “Gala de Joie” to Luxembourg.
As interest in the budding club grew, several well-known and talented Luxembourgers such as Pierre Dillenburg, Paul Reiles and Charles Munchen were keen participants in early productions of the fledgling club.
Over the ensuing years, the club has presented over 140 English language plays, ranging from Shakespeare, Chekov and Tennessee Williams to Joan Littlewood, David Mamet, Martin McDonagh and more.
Over the spanning fifty years, the enthusiasm of New World Theatre Club grew and branched into several theatrical arenas. The first was in 1978 as a founding member of the Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies (FEATS), in which the club continues to participate. In 1988, the New World Theatre Club began an annual theatre summer school in Luxembourg, now LEATSS. The 2007 Year of Culture began New World Theatre Club’s Youth Theatre programme which now enthusiastically teaches almost 50 children aged 10-18. The club continues its tradition of offering members and non-members workshops specialising in acting and technical sides of theatre.
New World Theatre club welcomes all to participate in the various club activities.
This 50th Anniversary celebration is a very important milestone in the Luxembourg theatre scene, during which the club looks forward to seeing many long-standing members and welcoming many new ones.
For further information about the celebrations, see www.nwtc.lu.
